Severable counter top for kitchen cabinet installation



Oct. 6, 1953 BURKE 2,654,648

SEVERABLE COUNTER TOP FOR KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATION Filed Sept. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

. 1 I Lou/'5 L. Burke ATTORNEY.

Oct. 6, 1953 BURKE 2,654,648

SEVERABLE COUNTER TOP FOR KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATION Filed Sept. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

1011/5 Z. fiurke ATTORNEY.

Oct. 6, 1953 L. L. BURKE 2,654,648

SEVERABLE COUNTER TOP FOR KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATION Filed Sept. 1 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. [nu/s Z. Burke I ATTORNEY.

Patented Dot. 6, 1953 SEVERABLE COUNTER TOP FOR KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATION Louis L. Burke, Connersville, Ind., assignor to Avco Manufacturing Corporation,

Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,688

3 Claims.

This invention relates to kitchen cabinets and is particularly concerned with tops therefor.

It has heretofore been difficult to provide a counter top for a kitchen cabinet which reasonably fits the desiderata dictated by the requirements of both the manufacturer and consumer of this type of merchandise. To facilitate manufacture tops have heretofore been made in sections of standard length with the result that, when installed in many locations, difiiculty was encountered in fitting the standard lengths to the space to be covered. In order to solve this problem, manufacturers have in the past made various types of improvisations, often unsatisfactory, to construct a continuous counter top fully occupying and making available for use the space provided.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a counter top which may be readily cut to length as required to fit a particular space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a counter top structure which is extremely rigid but which may be readily cut to length without the use of special tools.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a counter top which may be cut to length and assembled for a particular space without sacrificing any of the desirable qualities of the top, such as strength, rigidity and impenetrability to liquids.

The present invention permits the manufacture of a composition counter top which extends continuously over the entire area of its support and is fully reinforced by strengthening members positioned underneath the support. Counter tops made according to the principles of the present invention can be produced with great precision so that a number of sections can be joined to form a long top and trim strips may be easily and accurately applied to make liquid tight joints between the sections to reduce the likelihood of liquid seeping into the supporting structure.

Objects of the invention include the achievement of these ends.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth in the appended claims; the invention itself, however, both as to organization and use, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous corner counter top constructed according to the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a' counter top for a cabinet or counter in which the working area at the corner of a room is to be completed by the addition of another top section at the left side of the top shown;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but reversed side for side;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a continuous straight section of a counter top;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking upward at the underside of a counter top of the type shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the underside of a counter top of the type shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of a counter top section shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a counter top made according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of any of the counter tops shown in the previous figures with certain parts shown in elevation; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away to show the means by which the top is secured to the cabinets comprising the supporting structure upon which it is mounted.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the top In, which is continuous throughout the. entire area thereof and forms a unitary crevice-free top over a plurality of lower cabinets (not shown), includes a backguard portion H, a curved front edge portion l2, a back trim l3, a front trim I4, and a side portion IS. The side portion may comprise a transverse rib hereinafter more particularly described and designated in the subsequent figures by reference numeral 2!, or it may comprise a sheet of cornposition similar to the top I!) secured to a transverse rib 2|.

In addition, each of the tops shown in the first three figures includes a rear corner reinforcement l6 and a front corner reinforcement l1.

The top Ill is constructed of a fiat smooth layer of laminated vinyl chloride secured uniformly to a flat smooth steel base member 9, as particularly shown in detail in Fig. 9. The vinyl chloride layer may be applied by coating it with an aqueous dispersion of rubber, such as latex treated with compounding ingredients that will permit it to set on the application of heat. A similar coating is applied to the top surface of factory,

3 These two members are secured together in a suitable press and heated to approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit for a short period during which the compressed members cool and become bonded. The result is that the vinyl chloride. layer is very. uniform and tenaciously secured) to. the metal. so; that: it is inseparable therefrom for all practical purposes.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of steel base member 9.

of the vinyl chloride layer;

application base member 9 and extending subunderside of stantially the length of the. counter", top; Irrthe embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the" remote rib 215 extends continuously almost to the backguard' intervalsin order'to support-fully the structure described. Ribs 2| havechannel shaped cross sections:as-shown clearlyinFigs. 5,. 6; Tand 9 and are provided'witlr-cut-outs 22"forthe-reception of longitudinal ribs 25. Thusthe longitudinal reinforcing ribs are: supported at .substantially uniform: spaced base-points at thescutoutportions or ribs 21 Y and are firmly secured thereto byfastening means, suclr as screws,

shown in Fig; 9 extendinginto openings Zdw-hich I maybesuitably-tapped; Additional ribs 25a :are provided along the rear portion of the backguard H and are similarly secured at xcut+outs provided .inthe transverse supporting ribs. 21!, as also shown-clearly in- Fig." 9a

A reinforcing rplat'e zfi is provided to reinforce the curvedfront edge 'of th'e counterxtop. A trim member 14 'issecured along this front edge, and a rear :trim member l3 ie-secured: along the back edge of the backguard H as previously-described andas shown clearly in Fig. 9. r

The. structuresdescribed' aretsecured tea-supporting structure;- forinstance a basecabinet,"-as shown in- Fig- 10. Members 2 l are provided-With ears 2'! struck :out therefrom in positi-om to rest on top of flange 2 9 or aside wall: of the'base cabinet. Openings: are providedin flaingeZH- andears 21" which are aligned: with each 'other so that the members :maybe secured together by fastening means. One simplesmeth'odof joining the-members'is by the-use-of a-cli'p Z8, the-top=sur-face of which is threaded for the reception of screw-=36. After the clip-is-placed over-thaali'gned holes, screw 38 is reeeived in' the .1 threaded; portion: of fastener 28.

longitudinal reinforcing" ribs 25 secured, as by spotiwelding prior'toth tet With the aid of a hack saw, table saw or band saw: provided: with -metal cutting blades;- the assembly may beeasily .cut toany desired length by severancealong 1a :lineiat. righciangles; to the longitudinal reinforcing.::ribs.-. Thetsupporting ribs 2| mayzbe relocatedezas-reduiredand secured to. these ribssothaethecounter top may:belfitted into. ;odd-.+shaped-1.=spaces :peculiar to: =particular homes. In eaoh' casesa rib 21 .is' always provided .attheend to -mamtain thatportion 0f the counter '4 top in proper alignment and to give it adequate support.

It should be noted in the various figures that the lateral faces of supporting ribs 2| also are provided at intervals with holes 2 la. These holes f cilita 3 mi s ter et iqa nd t end to create-.al ongcontinuous counter top; Thus the end supporting rib of one countertop section may be butted against that of another section and bolts passed through holes 21a for the attachmeIItQfi-fllhgSfiQtlOljlStO one another.

It; i's;.reeognized that supporting ribs 2! can readily be replaced at the ends of a counter by special. sections which facilitate attachment of thecountento' another unit such as a sink.

As has been stated hereinbefore, holes 24 are provided impairs; at. uniform intervals. By providing. kitchen base cabinets made in widths which are integral multiples of this interval, attachment of ribs 21- directly to the walls of the base-cabinets, as shown in l i'g l0, and to the counter top is greatly facilitated; Such attachment is-made by superposing the counter top relative to th'e'base cabinets with-holes Zdin position above the slde walls of the cabinets:

In other words, a counter top maybe easily assembled: I to anybase structure composed-01? a plurality of b'ase cabinets; the width 'of 'eac-h'of which is some integral multiple'of-the-spacing between the pairs of'holesZ'i. These h'ols' are provided'inpairs so that rig-ht OrleLtthaIId'reiH- forcing ribs 2-! may b-e-employed as desired to facilitate" attachment to -particular basecabinets. Figs. 5', Sand '7 illustrate the use ofsuch'right and left handreinforcing'rib-s.

Occasionally, a counter-top -must befitted to a spaceoi such a length that thetop cannotbe severed adjacent holes 24% This problemis'easily solved by drilling holes-in longitudinal ribs- 25 to receive the screws by which ribs 2!" are attached. In, this way the top inaybe fully-supported from its one extremity to itsopposite extremity and supporting members are provided underneath, all] edges of" the counter to-perrnit attachment of trim strips asidesiredf. Thisisan important ieature from the, viewpoint of sealing thecounter. top to prevent leakage of" liquids underneath it.

'lt shoul d' also be noticed that-air extremely strong 'stru'cture'is provided by'the present invention since the supporting ribs 2;! are securely bolted .to ribs ,2 5 regardless .of their location;

In'summary, the present invention provides; a

counter top having longitudihal reinforcing 'ribs secured to the underside of a baserrnemberito the top; of wh ch s b nded a mposition ro e t v layer. Transverse reiniorcing ribs are securedat intervals to the longitudinal ribs, name be positioned longitudinally ,asdesired, particularly to, facilitate installationof the counter. toptobase cabinetswithout sacrificing.anyrdesirable qualities ofthe top.

Having described my invention, Icl'aim;

1. Acounter topinstallation comprising .aplurality of coplanar counter top componentsinend to end alignment, each component comprising a supportingsheet iofrmedjto' define an up=turned backguard,a horizontal base. member in front of the backguard and a downwardlyc redl dfi forward of the 'base 'member; a pluralityfof, 1ongitudinal "reinforcing ribs rigidly secured'to the underside-of "each countertop component coeiitensive with said base member and backgu'ard';

a pluralityofasepara'bl'efrontst -bg k u pq each support including an upstanding reanportion for supporting the backguard and defining recesses along its top side for bearing relationship against the ribs while permitting bearing engagement of the remainder of each support against the underside of the associated counter top component; said ribs having a plurality of fastener-receiving openings at spaced intervals permitting attachment of said supports at predetermined points along said ribs, a support being secured closely adjacent the end of each counter top component; and fasteners for securing said supports to said ribs and for joining the ribs at the contiguous aligned ends of adjacent counter top components.

2. In combination in a counter top installation, a counter top component including a horizontal base member and an upturned backguard, a plurality of channel shaped longitudinal reinforcing ribs permanently secured to the underside of said base member and backguard, said ribs being coextensive with the length of said counter top component, said ribs including a plurality of fastenerreceiving openings at spaced intervals, a plurality of transverse supports of channel shaped cross section, each support including an upstanding rear portion for supporting said backguard and defining recesses along its top side for bearing engagement with said ribs while also permitting bearing engagement of the remainder of each support against the underside of said counter top component, and fastening means for securing said transverse supports to said ribs at predetermined intervals along the length of said counter top component.

3. In combination, a counter top component including a supporting sheet formed to define an up-turned backguard, a horizontal base member in front of the 'backguard and a downwardly curved edge forward of the base member; a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing ribs rigidly secured to the underside of said counter top component'coextensive with said base member and backguard; a plurality of separable front-to-back supports, each support including an upstanding rear portion for supporting the backguard and defining recesses along its top side for bearing relationship against the ribs while permitting bearing engagement of the remainder of each support against the underside of the associated counter top component; said ribs having a plurality of fastener-receiving openings at spaced intervals permitting attachment of said supports at predetermined points along said ribs; and fasteners for securing said supports to said ribs.

LOUIS L. BURKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,784,726 Hallowell Dec. 9, 1930 1,879,665 Ekvall Sept. 2'7, 1932 2,053,135 Dalton Sept. 1, 1936 2,123,366 Kehr et a1 July 12, 1938 2,166,195 Rosenberg et a1. July 18, 1939 2,166,196 Rosenberg et al. July 18, 1939 2,327,743 Rosenberg et a1. Aug. 24, 1943 2,439,027 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948 2,492,541 Stanitz Dec. 27, 1949 2,586,112 Stoddard Feb. 19, 1952 2,594,516 Swisher Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,328 Australia Nov. 14, 1935 

